This black and white film “The Farmer Takes A Roof” was produced by Wilding Picture Productions for the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa). It’s from the early 1950s as it references 60 years of Alcoa experience, founded in 1888, but also references the completed Shamrock Hotel in Houston, Texas that opened in 1949. The opening shot of a long barn with an aluminum roof (:27) is followed by a barnyard scene of various animals (:33-1:05). Aluminum can be used for more than a milk pail or milk can (1:08-1:13) or cooking in an aluminum pan (1:18). Aluminum roofing (1:35) provides better protection. The owner of a dairy farm in Fall Creek, Wisconsin (1:50-2:07), who appears to be a Mennonite, compliments its shiny clean look that reflects sun rays to keep the barn cooler in the summer and keeps the weather out in the winter. Another farmer agrees and adds it doesn’t have to be painted, making it lower maintenance (2:13-2:38). This even temperature is more applicable to barns curing and storing tobacco (2:40) and for poultry barns (2:44). The owner of that farm adds that aluminum is fire-proof, making it safer (3:00). In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, an Amish buggy (3:15) turns down a lane towards a very large aluminum covered barn (3:20). This Amish farmer says it’s more cost effective to put on a better roof once (3:46-4:30), which he and his 12-year old son did by themselves. Next is a research farm on 738 acres in the Midwest (4:42) that in addition to livestock and poultry, studies foxes, minks, and chinchillas (4:54-5:04). The graduates live on the farm in houses with aluminum roofs to reduce maintenance as they will not rust streak or have to be painted (5:38-5:44). Famous Texas architect Wyatt C. Hedrick sketches an office building to be erected in Midland, Texas (6:17). He also designed the Shamrock Hotel that opened in 1949 in Houston, Texas (6:29) and the Baylor University College of Medicine building in 1947 (6:32). He owned a ranch that specialized in pure-bred Brahma cattle (6:52) and his barns had aluminum roofs (7:00) because they could withstand high winds of 60 to 70 miles per hour over an extended amount of time. His head ranch hand put the roofs on either alone or with his 16-year old son (8:29). An instruction folder (8:56) shows how to easily handle the sheets and nail them on (9:01-9:19). Aluminum roofs are also used on the corn elevators (9:33). The Alcoa research lab is shown (10:05). An expert verifies that aluminum nails with weatherproof washers should be used to prevent corrosion (10:37). In 1884, the Washington Monument (11:14) was capped with aluminum. Other historic buildings include the East Liberty Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh (11:26), the St. Louis Civic Courthouse (11:30), and the First National Bank Building (11:33) in Oklahoma City. Aluminum is shown being produced in Alcoa, Tennessee (11:45-12:00) and transported as roofing sheets (12:05). Before and after barn roofs are shown (12:10-12:29).
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